Weekend Surf Forecast 12 to 14 July 2019

Mid July brings some excellent surf to most states. After enduring a relentless run of howling onshores and monstrous storm-swell, the Margaret River region will finally turn it on this weekend; producing three full days of clean, powerful surf as a couple of powerful SW groundswells go back to back under light westerly winds. Across the southern states, an active storm-track delivers a heavy round of WSW swell under strong and gusty westerlies; effectively writing off the prospect of surfing along South Australian and Victorian exposed beaches. That will leave the Surf Coast and other, semi-sheltered east-facing breaks as the go-to venues all weekend.

Along the East Coast, conditions are looking far more subdued over the next couple of days. The recent run of East and SE swells is set to give way to very placid conditions on Friday and Saturday; probably best suited to a mid-winter swim as fresh offshore winds and tiny swell produce excellent water quality and visibility on both days. However, come Sunday morning its game on once more as a new, directional south-swell kicks in at energetic levels; favouring true south-facing stretches for size and power, while producing a range of smaller, more accessible options along east facing beaches all day.

Some excellent surfing options open up across all regions this weekend. Photo: Uploaded to CW by Petertids.

Sydney, Newcastle and the South CoastFollowing a pretty epic week of surf across the NSW coast, we’re now looking at a brief hiatus in notable wave activity, before proceedings recommence on Sunday. Both Friday and Saturday are looking tiny to near flat across the region as residual SE swell fades into the 1ft range under fresh offshore westerly winds. However, as early as Saturday afternoon we should start to see the Tasman stirring once more. The passage of a first, vigorous frontal system across Tasmania and Bass Strait will lead in a transformation in conditions by Sunday morning; featuring a solid, directional southerly swell under westerly winds. By directional I mean SSW, running parallel to the coast – and that means big variances in surf-heights from near-flat inside sheltered southern corners, to a solid 3 to 5ft at south facing spots like Bondi – and up to double that size across Newcastle and Hunter coasts.

SaturdayBackground SSE and East swells down to 0.5-1ft along exposed areas, with scope for a rise in South swell to 1 to 2ft across south facing breaks during the late afternoon. Otherwise virtually flat. WIND: Westerly 15 to 25 knots, freshening to 20 to 30 knots or more during the day.

SundayNew Southerly swell peaks early. Up to 3 to 5ft along south facing beaches, easing a foot or so in the afternoon. Ranging from 2 to 4ft elsewhere with size depending on exposure. WIND: WSW 15 to 20 knots, tending Westerly and easing to 10 to 15 knots later.

We'll return to normal programming with the arrival of a new south swell on Sunday. Photo: Uploaded to CW by RGL.

Queensland and Far Northern NSWThe end of our recent, interminable run of easterly swell is finally in sight. The tail end of the swell was clearly dwindling on Thursday afternoon and by Friday it will be smaller again; down to 1 to 2ft across the region before it substantially fades away over the weekend. Right on cue, the swell will turn south; ramping up to respectable 4ft levels from Byron south on Sunday, but still wrapping at a much smaller size north of the border. The good news is there’s plenty more in the way of south swell to come, with a larger pulse in southerly groundswell offering plenty of grunt both north and south of the border early next week.

FridayMix of small-scale Easterly and SSE swells. Around 2ft exposed open breaks, grading to tiny/near flat inside the points and bays. WIND: Early light Westerly, WNW 5 to 15 knots, briefly tending light Northerly up to 10 knots in the afternoon, back to the NW later.

SaturdayBackground East and SSE swells up to an inconsistent 1 to 2ft at best along the most exposed coasts, otherwise verging on flat elsewhere. WIND: Westerly, WNW 5 to 15 knots, tending WSW to SW and freshening in the afternoon.

SundayDirectional Southerly swell picking up during the day. Northern NSW: Ranging from 3 to 5ft along south facing breaks, more like 2 to 4ft elsewhere. Southern QLD: wrapping at a slow 2ft to occasional 3ft along exposed beaches and 1 to 2ft or less along the points and into bays. WIND: WSW to SSW 10 to 15 knots, tending lighter Southerly, SE and fading to light and variable in the afternoon/ evening.

The surf focus shifts to northern NSW coasts with the onset of a new South swell from Sunday onwards. Photo: Uploaded to CW by Seanart.

VictoriaSurfing gets serious across the state this weekend. Seriously big, windy and cold that is. The passage of a large, intense winter low through Victoria’s swell window and across Bass Strait on Friday leads in the kind of conditions you might expect mid-winter: Large, windblown 6 to 10ft no-go zones along the exposed coasts, transforming into groomed, offshore lines ranging from 3 to 6ft along the Surf Coast on Friday, with a whole lot more in the way of size and power to come over the weekend.

FridayMid-period WSW groundswell fills in. Sets up to 6 to 8ft+ along exposed beaches. Tending to a clean 4 to 6ft range along the Surf Coast reefs. WIND: Westerly, WNW up to 20 to 35 knots.

SaturdayPotential for reinforcing SW groundswell. Speculatively 8 to 10ft+ along the exposed beaches. Wrapping at solid 6 to 10ft on the Surf Coast reefs, grading smaller elsewhere with size depending on exposure. WIND: Westerly 25 to 35 knots, turning WSW during the morning and SW and easing in the afternoon.

SundaySW groundswell rebuilds into the afternoon. Around 6 to 8ft+ along exposed beaches, rising to 8 to 10ft in the afternoon. Wrapping at 5 to 8ft along the Surf Coast reefs early, rising to 6 to 10 into the afternoon. WIND: WNW 15 to 25 knots, tending Westerly, WSW and freshening in the afternoon.

Strong offshore westerlies and a sustained run of WSW swell open up some good, hardy surfing options across the Surf Coast this weekend. Photo: Uploaded to CW by Bodhitodd.

Western AustraliaAt last, we have a weekend worthy of surfing across the Southwest. By Friday morning sees lighter offshore breezes greeting a still sizeable SW swell – and conditions will only improve from there as the light offshore easterly flow remains in place, supported by a high pressure system strengthening over Esperance coast. That leads in a full day of cooking conditions on Saturday as all-day easterlies greet a slow-easing SW groundswell, opening up a wide variety of excellent surf across the Southwest. Sunday will also be delivering the goods as a new SW groundswell rebuilds, this time under moderate ENE winds tending NE into the afternoon.

SaturdayEasing SW groundswell settles under light to moderate easterly winds. South West: Clean sets ranging from 4 to 6ft+ across exposed breaks, settling to 4 to 5ft+ during the arvo. Perth/Mandurah: Sets in the 2 to 3ft range, fading later. WIND: Easterly, ENE 5 to 15 knots, tending variable SE to NE in the afternoon.

SundaySW groundswell rebuilds under cross-offshore winds. Southwest: Increasing sets 4 to 6ft+ along exposed breaks, building towards 5 to 8ft in the afternoon, otherwise grading smaller elsewhere. Perth: Around 2 to 3ft, picking up in the arvo. WIND: ENE 10 to 15 knots, tending NE/NNE in the afternoon.

The Southwest is back in business under days of light easterlies. Photo: CW.

South AustraliaWinter continues to make its presence felt across the state over the coming days. An active storm-track extending across the Great Australian Bight maintains woolly conditions; characterised by sustained run of large, overlapping WSW and SW groundswells, butchered by strong west to south-westerly winds. Conditions will be at their windiest as a strong frontal low sweeps across the state on Friday and Saturday, producing heavy surf under relentless onshores. Sunday is shaping up as the best of a windblown bunch as SW winds finally begin to ease as a new high moves in over the Bight -but it will still be very large and onshore, to be sure.

FridayLarge WSW groundswell continues under strong West to SW winds. South Coast: Around 5 to 8ft at Waits and Parsons, up to 3 to 5ft around Middleton, easing later. Mid Coast: Around 1 to 2ft. WIND: Westerly, 15 to 30 knots, up to 20 to 35 knots during the day and tending WSW in the arvo.

SaturdayStrong SW groundswell under onshore winds. South Coast: Scope for stormy sets 6 to 10ft at Waits and Parsons, grading to an unruly 4 to 6ft+ around Middleton. Mid Coast: 2 to 4ft. WIND: SW 15 to 30 knots, easing in the afternoon.

SundaySettling SW groundswell under Westerly winds. South Coast: Junky 6 to 8ft+ at Waits and Parsons, wrapping at 4 to 5ft+ at Middleton, easing in the arvo. Mid Coast: Around 2 to 3ft. WIND: Westerly, WSW 10 to 20 knots, freshening later.

SA falls under the brunt of strong West to SW winds this weekend. Photo: Uploaded to CW by Empty_Riff.